Lionel Messi has been urged to come home to Barcelona after he was booed in PSG’s recent defeat to Lyon. And there’s a growing possibility that he will leave the defending Ligue 1 champions this summer.
A local report from France claims that Messi is unlikely to re-sign with the Parisiens because negotiations between him and the club are at a standstill. PSG are asking Messi to accept a huge pay cut on his next deal, but the Argentine forward apparently is not willing to do so.
Lens continue to defy the Ligue 1 2023 odds as they close in on PSG, while Nantes are not only fighting to stay above the relegation zone; they’re also trying to move away from the bad press that they’ve had after dropping one of their key players recently.
Here are some of the top Ligue 1 2023 updates, courtesy of SBOTOP.
Messi weighing his options after being given a mouthwatering offer
Should Lionel Messi decide to leave PSG this summer, there will be no shortage of suitors for his services, for sure.
Staying in Europe will be Messi’s priority, but there’s a possibility that he could follow Cristiano Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia, as Al Hilal reportedly offered him a massive €400 million-per-year deal.
Ronaldo is currently the highest paid footballer in the world because his contract with Al Nassr is €200 million per year. So, if Messi signs with Al Hilal, he’ll dwarf Ronaldo once again.
Messi makes €40 million gross annually from his existing PSG contract, but PSG want him to take a 25-per cent salary reduction to make room for possible new transfers to bolster their squad. RMC Sport claims that PSG are eyeing Victor Osimhen to strengthen their attack, but the Napoli star has a high asking price.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is playing well for PSG this season, and late last year, he led Argentina to their third World Cup victory.
But his performance has declined since then, and PSG were unable to go past the Round of 16 in the Champions League.
To summarise, Messi has four options this summer. He can choose to stay in Paris, return home to Barcelona, play in the MLS, or accept this massive offer from Al Hilal.
Lens stars attracting suitors
Several clubs are now interested in Lois Openda and Kevin Danso as a result of their strong performances this year.
Openda leads Lens in scoring with 15 goals, and he has also notched two assists. Danso, meanwhile, has been arguably their best centre-back this season.
Everton actually went after Openda last January, but the 22-year-old striker turned them down. AC Milan and Leicester City are now reportedly looking to sign him this summer.
His current contract with Lens is until June 2027. Openda joined Le Sang et Or from Club Brugge in July 2022.
Danso is on the radar of several clubs too. Inter Milan are considering him as a potential replacement for Milan Skriniar, while Newcastle United and Fulham are also keeping tabs on him.
Danso’s current contract with Lens is until June 2026, and he’s valued at around €16 million. Openda, on the other hand, has a transfer value between €22.2 million and €37 million.
Lens are second in the Ligue 1 standings with 60 points, tied with Marseille. They are unbeaten in their last five league matches, and they’re set to take on Strasbourg this weekend.
FFF slammed by fans for their Ramadan guidelines
The Premier League has encouraged referees to find a natural pause in play during evening games for Muslim players to break their fast, but that’s not the case here in France.
The France Football Federation (FFF) was heavily criticised by fans for this, and one team in particular was affected by this ruling.
Jaouen Hadjam was removed from Nantes’ match squad for fasting on matchdays during Ramadan. Nantes, who were without the 20-year-old full-back, suffered a 3-0 home loss to Reims on Sunday.
Fans of Nantes were stunned by Antoine Kombouare’s decision to drop Hadjam because he has been one of their most promising players this season. However, Kombouare insisted that he would not punish Hadjam.
The Nantes boss insisted that he only cares about his health.
“During the week, there are no problems with fasting players. I’m ready to support them if needed. We know it’s not an easy time,” said Kombouare. “But on gameday, you should not fast. And those who fast are not in the squad. I don’t want them to pick up an injury,” he added.
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